‘Night Out’ hits the spot with communities from Anglesey to Aberdare

The Arts Council of Wales’ ‘Night Out’ scheme has been a great success in rural communities across Wales during the 2017-18 according to an evaluation of the scheme undertaken recently.
18 Jun 2018

IMAGE: Keith Morris

Gwynedd has benefited most from this pioneering scheme which assists local promoters – such as village halls, chapels, churches or pubs – to stage quality professional entertainment in the communities in which they live; arts events like drama, concerts, dance and comedy. During the past year Gwynedd has seen 77 events being staged thanks to the help of the ‘Night Out’ scheme with Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Wrexham and Flintshire also putting on a good number of performances.

The scheme provides a guarantee against loss from promoters, even if the number attending aren’t enough to cover the cost of staging the event.

Making reference to the scheme, one promoter in Cwm Penmachno, Mary Twomey of Cwm Community Action Group, said:

"The Night Out scheme is invaluable to us here in Cwm Penmachno. We are a remote village and travel to other venues is time consuming, and almost impossible for people without their own transport. Being able to provide entertainment at reasonable cost contributes enormously to the village and helps us maintain a strong community."

Peter Gregory, Head of the Arts Council Wales Night Out scheme, said:

"Across the whole of Wales during 2017-18, the scheme funded 511 performances in communities across Wales, and these were arranged by 319 groups in 349 locations thanks to the help of 3225 individual volunteers.

"It is wonderful that this scheme continues to go from strength to strength and does so much, with so little investment, to support the cultural life of Wales’ more rural, remote or deprived communities."